Manchester (AP) – Cristiano Ronaldo conjured up the team spirit at Manchester United.
“We stand together,” the superstar wrote on Twitter and Instagram, where he has almost half a million followers, after his side’s 4-2 win at Leeds United over the weekend. “A very important Premier League win before we turn our focus to the Champions League and head to Madrid.” Before the game at Atlético on Wednesday (9 p.m. / DAZN), things are said to be brewing around the English record champions. Also because of Ronaldo, who was not involved in a goal at Leeds.
Last week, for example, we read about a power struggle between Ronaldo and team captain Harry Maguire. Accordingly, the Portuguese are contesting the captain’s armband from the England international, it was said. “That’s absolute nonsense,” commented coach Ralf Rangnick at the weekend. Maguire also denied corresponding reports on social media. The team is “closed and focused,” said the defense chief. Is it all just rumours? At least Rangnick conceded that the captain’s question was open for next season.
Less goal risk
It’s not a rumor, it’s a fact that the quality of attack has declined since Ronaldo’s return to Old Trafford. Not only does Manchester United pose less of a goal threat, but also Ronaldo himself. This was shown by an analysis by The Athletic magazine. When the Portuguese scored against Brighton & Hove Albion last week, it was his first goal after 587 minutes, his longest goal drought since 2009.
“He needs to score more goals, that’s obvious,” Rangnick recently demanded. “We create chances but haven’t scored enough goals.” However, it was “not just Ronaldo’s problem,” emphasized the coach. After all, CR7 is the team’s top scorer with 15 goals, 9 in the Premier League and 6 in the premier league.
Anger after substitution
It is difficult to assess the relationship between the German coach and his Portuguese superstar. When the striker was substituted early in January’s 3-1 win at Brentford FC in January, it was at least clear to all viewers how angry he was at Rangnick’s decision. “Why me?!” scolded the Portuguese, whose self-image, even at 37, is always playing. So far he was allowed to do that under Rangnick.
“If a coach doesn’t field a 37-year-old, it shouldn’t cause concern,” criticized former England international and TV commentator Jamie Carragher in his column in the “Telegraph”. It’s “too much about the CR7 brand” and not enough about the team, he complained. In the summer, Carragher described Ronaldo’s commitment, who played for Man United from 2003 to 2009, as a mistake.
The tabloid “Sunday Mirror” speculated that Ronaldo’s comeback could be over after just one season. Accordingly, the 2016 European champion should want to leave the club again in the summer if Man United miss fourth place and thus qualification for the Champions League. In Carragher’s opinion, that would be for the best. “If his United reunion is limited to one season, his departure will solve more problems than it causes.”